High fluidity cutting oils which exhibit retro-viscous properties

ABSTRACT

An improved cutting oil composition containing lamellar micelles and which exhibits retro-viscous properties at noncryogenic temperatures is composed of 4-15% of a surfactant (preferably petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of 350525), 30-70% of liquid hydrocarbon, 15-66% of water and optionally up to 20% of a cosurfactant (preferably an alcohol containing 1-20 carbon atoms) and/or electrolyte (preferably inorganic salt). The micelles within the composition must have an axial ratio of at least 3.5. Also, the composition is substantially optically clear, phase stable, birefrigent, and the flow properties are such that substantially large increases in flow rates, e.g. 20-fold, can be realized at very small pressure increases, e.g. 5%. Additional additives to impart desired properties can be included within the composition.

[ Dec. 23, 1975 HIGH FLUIDITY CUTTING OILS WHICH EXHIBIT RETRO-VISCOUSPROPERTIES [75] Inventors: Karl D. Dreher, Littleton, Colo.;

William B. Gogarty, Findlay, Ohio [73] Assignee: Marathon Oil Company,Findlay,

Ohio

[22} Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 395,673

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.375,293, June 29,

1973, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 252/33-3; 72/42; 252/41; 252/495 [51] Int. Cl. C10M 1/40;C10M 3/34 [58] Field of Search 252/333, 33.4, 41, 49.5; 72/42 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,330,343 7/1967 Tosch et al.116/274 X 3,497,006 2/1970 Jones et al. 166/273 3,506,070 4/1970 Jones166/274 X 3,506,071 4/1970 Jones 166/274 X 3,673,124 6/1972 Holm252/49.5 X 3,691,072 9/1972 Holm 252/495 X 3,698,479 10/1972 Askew etal. 252/495 X 3,740,343 6/1973 Jones et a]. 252/495 X 3,770,649 11/1973Burdge 252/495 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 665,524 6/1963 Canada252/495 921,960 2/1973 Canada 166/273 Primary Examiner-Delbert E. GantzAssistant Examiner-Andrew H. Metz Attorney, Agent, or FirmJoseph C.Herring; Richard C. Willson, Jr.; Jack L. Hummel [57] ABSTRACT Animproved cutting oil composition containing lamellar micelles and whichexhibits retro-viscous properties at noncryogenic temperatures iscomposed of 4-15% of a surfactant (preferably petroleum sulfonate havingan average equivalent weight of 350-525), 30-70% of liquid hydrocarbon,l566% of water and optionally up to 20% of a cosurfactant (preferably analcohol containing l-20 carbon atoms) and/or electrolyte (preferablyinorganic salt). The micelles within the composition must have an axialratio of at least 3.5. Also, the composition is substantially opticallyclear, phase stable, birefrigent, and the flow properties are such thatsubstantially large increases in flow rates, e.g. 20-fold, can berealized at very small pressure increases, e.g. 5%. Additional additivesto impart desired properties can be included within the composition.

14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of23,928,215

I SHl-AA m vs. SHEAR 57 955 SHEAR RATE, sec" x 10' -X 0.0 M l l SHEARSTRESS (dynes/cm x10") U.S. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,928,215

Z PEI-550,95 020p vs. HOW M75 cum/5 FLOW RATE Q (cc/sec.)

.0001 .001 1 I Illll IIIIIIII I|IIIII| TUBE VISCOMETER L= 84.0 IN.

E D=.026 IN. A D= .0346 IN. D=.04I8 IN. 0 D=.0483 IN.

I I IIIIIII n h l llllllo II a m I H I m 0 H T WNNN HI I :M.. OMQIQMW III c l l. O 0418 xwmmmm v I W WWW d I TD I E I. l 0A.- ..I.I||A T 0 I lm2 I .w Im H .1 H I I I m H .lll Illll H 5:... 1 w m w 1 w 1 SHEAR RATE Isec") jg- 3 APPAAFNT WSCOS/TV vs. 5/1541? RATE CUM/f men FLUIDITYCUTTING OILS wmcri'gxmm RETRO-VISCOUS PROPERTIES f CROSS REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention.

This invention relates to an improved cutting oil containing water,surfactant, hydrocarbon, and optionally cosurfactant and/or electrolyte.Lamellar micelles are present in the composition.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

Zlochower and Schulman, in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science,Vol. 24, No. 1, May, 1967 pp. 1 15-124 defines a liquid crystal obtainedfrom a composition consisting of amino methyl propanol and amino butanololeate microemulsions of water and benzene. The initial solution, i.e.before the liquid crystal, is an isotropic solution consisting ofspherical micelles of decyl trimethylammonium bromideschloroform inwater. This is titrated with chloroform to form the liquid crystal andupon further addition of the chloroform, a second isotropic solution isformed with the chloroform as the external phase.

Canadian Pat. No. 921,690 teaches micellar systems containing 2-l6%surfactant, 320% hydrocarbon, l5% alcohol and the residue water whichexhibit birefringence, shear thickening behavior at low shear rates andshear thinning behavior at high shear rates, etc. These systems do notexhibit retro-viscous properties as do Applicants compositions.

Both oil-external and water-external micellar dispersions (this termincludes microemulsions, micellar solutions, etc.) are described in theart, e.g. see US. Pat. Nos. 3,254,714, to Gogarty et al.; 3,497,006 toJones et al; 3,506,070 and 3,507,071 to Jones. These dispersionsgenerally exhibit a decrease in viscosity upon increase in flow rate.

Cutting oils desirably act as a lubricant to reduce friction and as acoolant to remove, heat of friction, deformation, etc. from the workarea. Where the frictional heat is great, as compared with with the heatof deformation, e.g. tapping or broaching, non-aqueous oils arepreferred because of the their superior lubricating properties. Theselubricating oils usually contain added anti-friction-agents such asfatty oils, and antiwelding agents such as active sulfur compounds.Where the principal function is as a coolant, then dilute emulsions ofoil and water are preferred since the water has a higher specific heatand heat of vaporization and thus carries away more efficiently theheat. The cutting oil emulsions desirably emulsify readily with water ofvarying degrees of hardness to form stable'emulsions. Emulsion must havesufficiently lubricity to satisfy the needs and also it should protectagainst corrosion.

The major function of a cutting oilfor most cutting operations is toreduce the temperature of the cutting tool so that it does not soften,i.e. cutting efficiency of the tool decreases with softness of themetal. Also, it is necessary to cool the working pieces to permitwelding and to lubricate at higher temperatures. j

In general, a cutting fluid should act as a lubricant to reduce frictionand as a coolant to carry away the heat of friction and deformation. Ifthe friction heat is great compared to the heat of deformation,non-aqueous oils are preferred because of their superior lubricatingproperties. However, if cooling is the principal function of the cuttingoil, dilute oil-in-water emulsions are preferred because of the higherheat capacity.

Applicants have discovered the use of a novel surfactant mixture whichmeets both of the above-mentioned requirements. That is, it has a highfluidity and good lubricating properties as well as a high heatcapacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicants cutting oil composition exhibits avery large increase in flow rate under a very small pressure increase.The lamellar micelles within the composition have a preferred axialratio of at least 10. The composition contains 4l5% surfactant, 3070%liquid hydrocarbon, 15-66% water, and optionally up to 20% cosurfactantand/or up to 5% by weight, based on the water, of electrolyte, e.g.inorganic salt. Additives such as extreme pressure agents, oxidationinhibitors, etc. may in incorporated within the composition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In FIG. 1, the shear rate is plotted vs. theshear stress from Example 2 data. Up to a shear stress of about 9.5dynes/cm Xl0 and after a shear stress of about 10 dynes/cm X10 theparticular composition of this invention acts as a pseudo plastic fluid.Between these shear stresses is the unique retro-viscous property of theinvention, i.e. the composition appears to have no resistance to flow atthese shear stresses but at lower and higher shear stresses thecomposition appears viscous.

FIG. 2 shows the relation of pressure drop to flow rates in differentsize tubes. The tubes are made of stainless steel, are 84 inches longand have diameters as indicated in FIG. 1. Data for this figure areobtained by titrating with distilled water an anhydrous compositioncontaining 9.8% ammonium heptadecylbenzene sulfonate, 18.5%cyclohexanol, and 71.8% n-decane, the percents based on weight. Oninitial titration it is postulated that spherical micelles are obtained.Further titration results in lamellar micelles, at which time thepressure drop vs. flow rate exhibits a flat response. It is postulatedthat additional titration obtains substantially spherical micelles. Thecompositions containing the substantially spherical micelles act asNewtonian fluids.

FIG. 3 represents the relationship of viscosity vs. shear rate in thetubes identified in FIG. 2, these data obtained at25C. The discontinuityof the graph in this Figure is characteristic of the retro-viscouscompositions of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION The compositions ofthis invention contain lamellar micelles which have an actual ratio(ratio of length divided by diameter) of at least 3.5 and preferably atleast 10 and more preferably at least 20. The compositions are opticallyclear, phase stable, and exhibit birefringence. They generally have aviscosity of at least cps at a shear rate of 10 sec at 23C. When thesecompositions are under flowing conditions and at particular pressures anincrease in pressure, e.g. up to 5%, will effect a substantially largeincrease in flow rate, e.g. 20-fold increase. These compositions arelike liquid crystals in that they exhibit birefringence. Also, the

3 compositions have an elastic component which increases with shearrate, i.e. the faster you shear the composition, the more energy isstored in the compositron.

The compositions contain water, surfactant, hydrocarbon, and optionallycosurfactant and/or electrolyte.

The surfactant is present in concentrations of about 4 to aboutpreferably about 5.5 to about 12% and more preferably about 7 to about9%. Carboxylates and sulfonates are useful as the surfactant. Preferablythe surfactant is a sulfonate, more preferably an alkaryl sulfonate(includes petroleum sulfonates) and has an average equivalent weightwithin the range of about 350 to about 525, preferably about 375 toabout 500 and more preferably about 400 to about 470. Mono and/orpolysulfonates are useful. Examples of such sulfonates include alkarylsulfonate wherein the alkyl group contains about 6 to about carbon atomsand preferably about 10 to about 17 carbon atoms, e.g. ammoniumheptadecylbenzene sulfonate. Cation of the sulfonate is an alkali metalor ammonium. The sulfonate can be petroleum sulfonate, e.g. commerciallyavailable as Shell sodium sulfonate, a petroleum sulfonate having anaverage equivalent weight of about 470, an activity of 62% and isavailable from the Industrial Chemical Division of Shell ChemicalCompany, Houston, Texas. Sonneborn Chemical and Refining Company, 300Park Avenue South, New York, New York, markets sodium petroleumsulfonates useful with the invention:

1. Petronate L, average equivalent weight 415-430,

2. Petronate K, average equivalent weight 420-450,

3. Petronate HL, average equivalent weight 440-470,

4. Petronate CR, average equivalent weight 490-510,

5. Pyronate 50, average equivalent weight 360.

The Sonneborn sulfonates are about 62% active sulfonate, the residueincludes 33% mineral oil, about 4.5% water, and the balance salts.Bryton Chemical Company, 63 0 Fifth Avenue, New York 20, New York has aseries of petroleum sulfonates that are useful:

1. Bryton F, sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalentweight of 465,

2. Bryton T, sodium petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalentweight of 500,

3. Bryton ammonium sulfonate 35-K, an ammonium sulfonate having anaverage equivalent weight of 465.

The sulfonates within the above equivalent weight range exhibit bothoiland water-solubility properties.

Useful carboxylates are preferably the monovalent cation and ammoniumsalts of fatty acids; they preferably have average equivalent weightswithin the range of about 200 to about 500 and preferably about 250 toabout 400 and more preferably about 300 to about 375. Specific examplesinclude the salts of the following acids: aliphatic acids such ascupric, lauric, myristic, palmitic and stearic; aromatic acids such assubstituted benzoic, naphthoic, substituted naphthoic and similararomatic acids; and in general saturated fatty acids and substitutedproducts thereof and unsaturated fatty acids and substituted productsthereof. Average equivalent weight is defined as the average molecularweight divided by the average number of carboxylate or sulfonategroupings per molecule. Thus, the equivalent weight of a sulfonate isequal to the molecular weight when the sulfonate is a mono sulfonate.

The hydrocarbon is present in concentrations of about 30 to about 70%,preferably about 40 to about 60 and more preferably about 45 to about55%. The hydrocarbon can be crude oil (preferably sweet crude),partially refined fractions of a crude oil such as gasoline, kerosene,naphtha, liquefied petroleum gases, and other distillation cuts fromfractionation of crude oil. Refined fractions of crude oil are alsouseful, such as jet fuel, finished gasoline", benzene, toluene, xylene,propylene, butylene, etc. Also, the hydrocarbon can be a synthesizedhydrocarbon including substituted paraffinic and aromatic hydrocarbonsas well as halogenated hydrocarbons. Unsulfonated hydrocarbon within thepetroleum sulfonates is also useful.

The water can be soft water, brackish water, or a brine. Concentrationof the water is about 15 to about 66%, preferably about 20 to about 55%and more preferably about 25 to about 50%. 1f ions are present in thewater, they are preferably compatible with the surfactant as well asother components within the composit1on.

The cosurfactant can be an alcohol, ester, aldehyde, ketone, ether, or acompound containing one or more of hydroxy, oxy, epoxy, amino, chloro,bromo or like groups. The cosurfactant contains 1 to about 20 or moreand preferably about 3 to about 16 carbon atoms. Examples includeisopropanol, nand ibutanols, amyl alcohols, such as n-amyl alcohol, land2-hexanol, cyclohexanol, l-octanol, decyl alcohols, alkaryl alcoholssuch as p-nonyl phenol, glycol monobutyl ether (butyl Cellusolve),diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl Carbitol), ethoxylated alcoholsand alcoholic liquors such as fusel oil. The preferred cosurfactant isan aliphatic alcohol(s) including primary, secondary and/or tertiaryalcohols. The cosurfactant is present in concentrations of up to about20% and preferably about 0.001 to about 17% and more preferably about0.1 to about 15%.

The electrolyte is present in concentrations up to about 5% andpreferably about 0.001 to about 3% and more preferably about 0.01 toabout 2.5%, based on the water. The electrolyte is an inorganic salt,inorganic base, inorganic acid or combination thereof. Specific examplesinclude sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodiumnitrate, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, ammonium chloride, ammoniumhydroxide, ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, etc. Other examples ofelectrolytes are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,343 to Tosch et al.

The addition of the electrolyte generally broadens the retro-viscousrange of the composition. Retro-viscous, as used herein, is defined asthe property of the composition to exhibit essentially negligiblepressure drop at increased flow rates. This means that the mixture canexhibit extremely low viscosity over a certain range of shear rates.That is, essentially no increase in pressure drop is required toincrease the flow rate of the composition-see FIG. 2. Broadening out theretroviscous range may be desired where the composition comes in contactwith fluids which adversely influence this property, e.g. particularformation fluids in subterranean reservoirs. That is, by starting with abroad retro-viscous range, the composition will be compatible over awider range of environmental conditions before it degrades to amicroemulsion.

The compositions of this invention are made up of lamellar micelleswhich can be viewed as alternating layers of water and hydrocarbon withsurfactant between these layers, the polar groups of the surfactantbeing in the water. If the composition is obtained by 5 titrating anoil-external.microemulsion, it is postulated that the microemulsion hassubstantially spherical micelles and acts like a Newtonian fluid butupon further titration with water, the lamellar-type micelle isobtained. Axial ratio of the micelle is critical, i.e. it must be withinthe range defined earlier.

The cutting oil can be monitored during the use thereof to determinewhether the composition needs to be adjusted to maintain theretro-viscous properties. For example, additional components maynecessarily be added to obtain these properties or a portion of acomponent( s) may be extracted to maintain the property. Also, thetemperature of the composition can be controlled to maintain desiredproperties.

Additives can be incorporated into the retro-viscous composition. Theseadditives are those generally known to the art and can generally bequalified as those which do not substantially exert an adverse influenceupon the retro-viscous properties of the composition. A small amount ofexperimentation may be necessary to determine preferred concentrations,etc. and preferred additives which will work best. Examples of additivesuseful with the composition include extreme pressure agents, corrosioninhibitors, oxidation inhibitors, oxygen scavenging agents,bactericides, viscosity-increasing agents (either hydrophilic oroleophilic), anti-friction agents, anti-welding agents, anti-foamingagents, etc. The following examples are representative of thecompositions. Unless otherwise specified, all percents are based onweight.

EXAMPLE 1 To illustrate the criticality of the viscosity, the waterconcentration, etc., the following eight samples are presented. Thesesamples are composed of identical components and are admixed underidentical conditions:

TABLE 1 From the above data, it is evident that for a flow rate increaseof between 0.0016 to 0.0391 cc/sec, the pressure drop across these flowrates is essentially constant. This means that essentially no increasein pressure is required to increase the flow of the mixture by more than10-fold. Within this flow rate range, the viscosity is essentially thatof gas.

EXAMPLE 3 Additional samples of compositions obtained with sodiumpetroleum sulfonate are taught in Table 111:

TABLE 111 9 l() l l 71 /1 '7! Shell sulfonate 12 12 17.3 n-Decane 5037.1 Distilled Water 38 31% 44.5

lsopropanol The Shell sulfonate has an average equivalent weight ofabout 470 andris a monosulfonate. Activity of the Shell SAMPLE NUMBERS(./1 BY WEIGHT) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NH heptadeeylbenzene sulfonate 9.0 7.77.4 7.3 7.2 7.15 6.1 718 Cyclohexanol 16.9 14.5 14.0 13.) 13.6 13.5 11.5 13.56 n-Dccanc 65.7 56.4 54,2 53.8 52.9 52.4 44.7 52.5 DistilledWater 8.3 21.4 24.3 25.0 26. 27.0 37.6 26.7 Viscosity 3.6 5.7 6.3 82.0 118.0 350.0 50.0 2000 (up) at shear rate of 10 sec and 23C.

EXAMPLE 2 Sample 6 from Example 1 is studied. Pressure drop vs. flowrate is studied in a stainless steel tube'having a v diameter of 0.2646inch and a length of 132.38 inches sulfonate in Samples 10 and 11 is62%, e.g. Sample 10 contains 7.44% active sulfonate, the residue issalts and unreacted hydrocarbon, and the activity in Sample 9 is 1EXAMPLE 4 These data are obtained as a function of titrating a stocksolution of Nl-L heptadecylbenzene-p-sulfonate cyclohexanol and n-decanewith distilled water. These data suggest that as the water is added, aninversion from an oil-external system to a water-'external systemoccurs. Although all eight samples are optically clear, only samples 14,15, 16 and, 17, and- 18 exhibit birefringence as evidenced by thedepolarization of incident light (these data are'obtained with aBrice-Phoenix light scattering photometer) and samples 12, 13 and 19show no birefringence. The viscosity data and depolarizationmeasurements suggest that as water is added to the system, smallspherical water droplets suspended in decane (note the specificconductivity of sample 1 change to lamellar structures. Such a changecan be considered as alternating layers of water and decane with thesulfonate and cyclohexanol oriented between these layers with theirpolar groups in the aqueous phase. The data for sample 18 suggestscomplete inversion to small oil droplets suspended in water. Data forthese eight samples are illustrated in Table IV.

Under specific conductivity, mhos is defined as l/ohms and cm iscentimeter. The viscosity is obtained on a Brookfield viscometer run at6 rpm at 23C. 1H and IV are defined as intensity of the horizontalcomponent of scattered light from the fluid and intensity of thevertical component of the same light, respectively.

Fluid samples 12 and 13 are oil-external microemulsions whereas sample17 is a water-external microemulsion and samples 14, 15, 16, and 17 and18 are in the transition stage between an oil-external microemulsion anda water-external microemulsion and are representative of compositions ofthis invention.

Pressure drop (PS1) vs. flow rate (cc/sec) in a tube viscometer havingdimensions as indicated in the tables for samples 12. 13, 15, 16, and 19are plotted in Tables V, VI, VII, VIII and IX (T... shear stress at thewall of the tube, Av/Ar shear rate and ya apparent viscosity):

TABLE V FLUID l2 TUBE VISCOMETER L 213.99 cm. D 0.066 cm Q '1... A v/Arp. a

psi cc/scc dynes/cm sec cp TABLE VI FLUID 13 TUBF. VISCOMETFR I- 213.99cm. I) 0.066 cm psi cc/scc dyncs/cm soc cp TABLE VI-continued FLUID 13'IUIIF. VISCOMETER I. 213.99 cm. D 0.066 cm A P Q T... A\'/Ar ,u.a psicc/scc dyncs/cm sec cp TABLE VII FLUID 16 TUBE VISCOMETER L 213.99 cm. D0.066 cm AP 0 '1,,. A \'/A r p. a psi cc/scc dyncs/cm scc up TABLE VIIIFLUID 15 TUBF. VISCOMETER L 336.24 cm. D 0.0672 cm A P Q '1' Av/Ar p. apsi cc/scc clyncs/cm sec cp TABLE IX FLUID 19 'I'UBF. VISCOMETER 1.213/36 cm. D 0.066 cm P Q 1],. A v/A r u. :1 psi cc/scc (lyrics/cm scccp Samples 15 and 16, for example, are quite unique. Sample 16 has astructural rearrangement within the fluid up to a shear rate of 300 secat which time the fluid collapses and offers essentially no resistanceto flow until the shear rate reaches 2.600 sec"' at which time the fluidreverts to a non-Newtonian flow characteristic. Sample 15 behaves thesame way. except the EXAMPLE To show that the surfactant of theinvention is critical. the following example is presented:

A composition is obtained by mixing 32.8% distilled water. 31.5% dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (the surfactant) and 35.7% chloroform.Pressure drop as A P (psi) vs. flow rate, Q (cc/sec) data are obtainedas reported in Table X:

TABLE X TURF. VlSCOMETER DATA A P (psi) 0(cc/sec) These data areobtained in a tube viscometer having a diameter of 0.0483 inch and alength of 84 inches. As

these data indicate. a substantially large increase in flow rate is notobserved at small increases in AP.

The above examples are not intended to limit the invention; rather, allequivalents obvious to those skilled in theart are intended to beincorporated within the scope of the invention as defined within thespecification and appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. in a process of machining metal wherein a cutting oil comprised ofabout 30 to about 70% of a liquid hydrocarbon, about to about 66% ofwater, about 4 to about 15% of an anionic surfactant having an averageequivalent weight of 350 to about 525 or a carboxylate having an averageequivalent weight of about 200 to about 500, and optionally containingabout 0.001 to about of a cosurfactant, the percents based on 10 weight,is used, the improvement comprising using as the cutting oil acomposition containing lamellar micelles having an axial ratio of atleast about 3.5 and the cutting oil also exhibiting retro viscousproperties.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a petroleumsulfonate containing an alkali metal or ammonium cation.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the cutting oil contains thecosurfactant.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the composition contains 0.001 toabout 5% by weight of an electrolyte which is an inorganic salt,inorganic base, inorganic acid, or a combination thereof.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is present inconcentrations of about 5.5% to about 12%, the hydrocarbon is present inconcentrations of about to about 60% and the water is present inconcentrations of about 20 to about 55%.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the axial ratio of the micelles is atleast about 10.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the axial ratio of the micelles is atleast about 20.

8. In a process of machining metal wherein a cutting oil comprised ofabout 4 to about 15% of an alkaryl sulfonate having an averageequivalent weight within the range of about 350 to about 525, about 30%to about 70% of a liquid hydrocarbon, about 15 to about 66% of water,and about 0.01 to about 20% of a cosurfactant is used, the improvementcomprising using as the cutting oil a composition containing lamellarmicelles having an axial ratio of at least about 3.5 and which exhibitsretro viscous properties.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the composition contains about 0.001to about 5%, by weight, of an electrolyte which is an inorganic salt,inorganic acid, inorganic base or combination thereof.

10. The process of claim 8 wherein the sulfonate is a petroleumsulfonate having an average equivalent weight within the range of about375 to about 500.

11. The process of claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon concentration isabout 45 to about 55%.

12. The process of claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon is a crude oil,partially refined fraction of a crude oil, or a refined fraction of acrude oil.

13. The process of claim 8 wherein the water concentration is about 25to about 50%.

14. The process of claim 8 wherein the axial ratio of the micelles is atleast about 10.

l l= l

1. IN A PROCESS OF MACHINING METAL WHEREIN A CUTTING OIL COMPRISES OFABOUT 30 TO ABOUT 70% OF A LIQUID HYDROCARBON, ABOUT 15 TO ABOUT 66% OFWATER, ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 15% OF AN ANIONIC SURFACTANT HAVING AN AVERAGEEQUIVALENT WEIGHT OF 350 TO ABOUT 525 OR A CARBOXYLATE HAVING AN AVERAGEEQUIVALENT WEIGHT OF ABOUT 200 TO ABOUT 500, AND OPTIONALLY CONTAININGABOUT 0.001 TO ABOUT 20% OF A COSURFACTANT, THE PERCENTS BASED ONWEIGHT, IS USED THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING USING AS THE CUTTING OIL ACOMPOSITION CONTAINING LAMELLAR MICELLES HAVING AN AXIAL RATIO OF ATLEAST ABOUT 3.5 AND THE CUTTING OIL ALSO EXHIBITING RETRO VISCOUSPROPERTIES.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is apetroleum sulfonate containing an alkali metal or ammonium cation. 3.The process of claim 1 wherein the cutting oil contains thecosurfactant.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the composition contains0.001 to about 5% by weight of an electrolyte which is an inorganicsalt, inorganic base, inorganic acid, or a combination thereof.
 5. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is present in concentrationsof about 5.5% to about 12%, the hydrocarbon is present in concentrationsof about 40 to about 60% and the water is present in concentrations ofabout 20 to about 55%.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein the axial ratioof the micelles is at least about
 10. 7. The process of claim 1 whereinthe axial ratio of the micelles is at least about
 20. 8. In a process ofmachining metal wherein a cutting oil comprised of about 4 to about 15%of an alkaryl sulfonate having an average equivalent weight within therange of about 350 to about 525, about 30% to about 70% of a liquidhydrocarbon, about 15 to about 66% of water, and about 0.01 to about 20%of a cosurfactant is used, the improvement comprising using as thecutting oil a composition containing lamellar micelles having an axialratio of at least about 3.5 and which exhibits retro viscous properties.9. The process of claim 8 wherein the composition contains about 0.001to about 5%, by weight, of an electrolyte which is an inorganic salt,inorganic acid, inorganic base or combination thereof.
 10. The processof claim 8 wherein the sulfonate is a petroleum sulfonate having anaverage equivalent weight within the range of about 375 to about 500.11. The process of claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon concentration isabout 45 to about 55%.
 12. The process of claim 8 wherein thehydrocarbon is a crude oil, partially refined fraction of a crude oil,or a refined fraction of a cruDe oil.
 13. The process of claim 8 whereinthe water concentration is about 25 to about 50%.
 14. The process ofclaim 8 wherein the axial ratio of the micelles is at least about 10.